Improvement in construction of bridges



1 3 Sheets--Sheet1.

S. 3.8. NOWLAN. Construction of Bridges.

No. 136,935 PatentedMarch 18,1873.

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3 Sheets--Sheet 2.

s. B. B..NOWLAN.

Construction of Bridges Patented March 18, 1873.

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S. B. B. NUWLAN.

Constructinn of Bridges.

AM P/mw-umosmPH/c 00. M14 0550mm; Pmcsss) SAMUEL n. B. NOWLAN, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 136,935, dated March 18, 1873.

(35 Upon one end of each voussoir are formed hook or look flanges B, and upon the LAN, of the city, county, and State of New other end sockets 0, so that the adjacent York, have invented a new and useful Imvoussoirs may be locked together. E are provement in the Construction ofBridges over holes opening into grooves or passages F Navigable Waters, of which the following is leading through the frames A along each a specification: line of sockets 0, so that when the voussoirs Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a perspective view of are locked together melted composition metal a portion of my improved bridge. Fig. 2, may be poured into the said holes E, to flow Sheet 1, is a side view of a portion of the along the passages F, and aroundthe hookbridge. Fig. 3, Sheet 1, is a top view of the flanges B, filling all the interstices and maksame. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is a detail perspective ing the connection closer. view of one of the voussoirs. Fig. 5, Sheet This construction makes the connection 2, is a horizontal section of the same taken much stronger, and requires much less time; through the line 2 a, Fig. 6. Fig. 6, Sheet 2, than when bolts or rivets are used. By this is a vertical longitudinal section of the same construction, as each succeeding voussoir is taken through the line at as, Fig. 5. Fig. 7, secured in place 1t will be self-sustaining, and Sheet 2, is a vertical cross-section of the same taken through the line 3 y, Fig. 6. Fig. 8, Sheet 3, is a perspective view of the vertical connecting plate and the crown plates to which it is secured. Fig. 9, Sheet 3, is a view To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL B. B. N 0W- necting-plates G have sockets (1 formed in them to receive hook-flanges B formed upon the abutting voussoirs, thus forming a vertical and an angular lock, the passages F for the melted composition metal extending from the holes E along both the vertical and angular line of sockets G.

The voussoirs are so arranged as to break joints, as shown in Fig. 1, and are connected laterally by dovetailed steel keys, as seen at the point J, in Fig. 4.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent- 1. The voussoirs formed by casting frames around vertical parallel plates D, and provided with lock flanges or hooks B and sockets 0 upon their opposite inclined ends, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The holes E and passages F in the frames .sponding parts.

My invention has for its object to furnish an improvement in the construction of bridges, of any span and of any height, over navigable Waters, and which may also be applied to the construction of coffer-dams, roofs, domes, etc. The invention consists in the voussoirs formed by casting frames around vertical parallel plates, and provided with lock flanges or hooks and sockets upon their opposite inclined ends; in the holes and passages in the frames of the voussoirs, in connection with the lock flanges and sockets; and in the vertical connectingplates and inclined crownplates, provided with sockets to receive the lock-flanges, and with holes and passages to receive melted composition metal, to adapt said plates to receive the abutting voussoirs, as hereinafter fully described; A, in connection with the lock-flanges B and D are plates of corrugated boiler-plate iron, sockets O, substantially as herein shown and rolled iron, semi-steel, charcoal iron, or other described. suitable variety of iron. Five, more or less, 3. The vertical connecting-plate G and inof the plates D are arranged parallel with clined crown-plates H, provided with sockets each other, and at a distance apart of fifteen O and holes and passages E F to adapt them inches, more or less, and around them is cast to receive the abutting voussoirs, substantiala frame-work, A, to form a. voussoir for the 1y as herein shown and described.

bridge. The voussoirs are formed with ver- SAML. B. B. NOWLAN. tical sides, with the tops and bottoms parallel, Witnesses: or nearly parallel, and with their ends in- JAMES T. GRAHAM,

clined at an angle of about thirty-five degrees, 0. SEDGWICK. 

